1.

Introduction

The experiment aims to determine the convection coefficient hc at various temperatures

from the surfaces of bare pipe, silver-chrome painted pipe, painted pipe, 85% magnesia
insulated pipe and their respective lagging efficiency.

When a pipe, bare or lagged, is used to carry saturated steam under pressure, heat will
be lost to the surroundings because of temperature gradient existing between the steam and the
surroundings. The rate of heat transferred naturally will depend on the magnitude of the
temperature difference, the thermal resistance, and the heat transfer area. The most common
method of minimizing heat losses to the surroundings is the use of insulation to increase the
resistance and therefore lower the heat transfer rate.

The rate of heat lost from a pipe carrying steam can be measured simply by determining
the rate of condensation of steam, m, which can be collected at a certain interval of time.

The transport phenomena of energy or Heat Transfer occur in the unit processes and
operations in many industries. Different heat transfer mechanisms are used in the cooling or
heating of process materials in heat exchange equipment or more commonly known as heat
exchangers. Also, accounting for the heat loss in process plant is essential in minimizing the
economic value of energy being wasted. Hence, the knowledge of heat transfer principles is
important in the chemical engineering.

1
 2. Literature Review

As in the transfer of momentum and mass, heat transfer occurs due to a driving force
and is impeded by a resisting quantity or dimension. The driving force is the temperature
difference between two bodies. Whenever, there is an imbalance between the temperatures of
two bodies heat transfer occurs. From the Kinetic Molecular Theory, the hotter body contains
more energy than the cold body and thus energy transfers from a hot body to a cold body which.
This also conforms to the Second Law of Thermodynamics which dictates that the normal flow
of heat.

In many practical applications, heat transfer is assumed to be steady-state. The most

basic law which governs heat transfer is Fourier’s Law of Conduction which is mathematically
expressed as:

𝑑𝑇
𝑞 = −𝑘𝐴
𝑑𝑥

Where 𝑞 − 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟

𝑘 − 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙

𝐴 − 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎

𝑑𝑇
− 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙𝑠
𝑑𝑥

There are three ways in which heat can be transferred and these are conduction,
convection, and radiation. Conduction occurs when two materials with different temperatures
come into contact with each other. It is well understood by the Fourier’s Laws of Convection.
Fourier’s first law is usually used in steady-state conduction and the second law is used in the
analysis of unsteady-state conduction which is given below:

𝜕𝑇 𝜕 2𝑇
=𝛼 2
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥

Where 𝛼 − 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦

The expression for Fourier’s Law for Unsteady-state Conduction involves partial
differential equations and requires special techniques to obtain particular solutions.

2
 Convection is also similar to conduction. However, due to the property of fluids to
change its density with temperature complicates the analysis. The equivalent equation to
describe convection is:

𝑞 = ℎ𝐴∆𝑇

Where 𝑞 − 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟

ℎ − ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡

𝐴 − 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎

∆𝑇 − 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒

There are two kinds of convection: Forced Convection and Natural Convection. Forced
Convection involves a fluid-motive device such as a fan or blower which forces the fluid to
flow past through a solid surface. On the other hand, in natural convection, the warmer or
cooler fluid next to the solid surface causes a circulation due to density differences resulting
from the temperature differences in the fluid.

Radiation is quite unique compared to conduction and convection because there is no

physical medium used in the transfer of heat. Thermal energy in here travels in the form of
electromagnetic waves.

To determine therefore the effectiveness of an insulation, it is just a matter of comparing

the heat lost from the pipe with an insulation with that from a bare pipe. Since heat lost is
proportional to the rate of condensation, and the weight of condensate is proportional to the
volume of condensate v, assuming temperatures and pressures of condensates are the same,
then the lagging efficiency may be determined using the equation

where

3
To determine the theoretical heat lost, let us consider a pipe of length L insulated as shown
carrying steam at a temperature Th and exposed to surrounding air at Ta and surrounding walls
of the room at Tw.

Before heat is transferred to the surroundings, it travels first from the bulk of the steam through
the steam film condensate, then through the metal pipe, then through the insulation by
conduction until it reaches the surface of the insulation where part of the heat is transferred to
the surrounding air by convection and part by radiation to the surrounding walls. That is,

where hc = Heat transfer coefficient by convection

hr = Heat transfer coefficient by radiation

Ts = Surface temperature of insulation

Ao = Outside area of insulation

4
For practical purposes, Ta =Tw , therefore Equation (5) becomes

5
 3. Experimental section: Apparatus and Procedure

Materials/ Equipment:

 Boiler
 Test pipes – bare, paint, silver chrome paint, and 85 % magnesia insulation
 Thermocouple
 Beakers
 Graduated Cylinder
 Stopwatch

Procedures:

1. The pressure of the system was first set to 30 psig.

2. After the adjustments, the drain cock under the header was cracked to remove the water from
the steam line and header.
3. To blow out any condensate from the pipes, the four plug-type valve was opened and after
which closed until only small amount of steam escaped along with the condensate.
4.When the surface temperature measurements had come close to constant, the system has
reached equilibrium then he condensate from each pipe was collected and measured over a time
interval of 10 minutes. The following data were recorded:
i. Barometric pressure
ii. Room temperature
iii. Stream Pressure and temperature
iv. Surface temperature

5. The surface temperatures were taken at three equally spaced points along each test pipes.

6. Two trials were made to gather accurate data.

6
 4. Results and Discussions

Pipe No. 1 2 3 4
Covering Paint Bare Pipe Silver- 85% Magnesia
Chrome Paint Insulation
Outside Diameter (in) 1.26 1.18 1.30 2.16
Emissivity 0.95 0.95 0.95 0.95
Run No. 1
Barometric Pressure 1 atm
Steam Pressure 30 psig
Room Temperature 32˚C / 89.6 ºF
Time/Run 10 mins

Table 4.1 Tabulated Data of Heat Loss in Bare and Lagged Pipes

Pipe No. 1 2 3 4
Trial
1 A 106˚C 111˚C 110˚C 45˚C

B 106˚C 116˚C 115˚C 55˚C

C 115˚C 116˚C 116˚C 62˚C

D 115˚C 119˚C 119˚C 69˚C

SURFACE TEMPERATURE

2 A 102˚C 113˚C 108˚C 45˚C

B 107˚C 113˚C 111˚C 54˚C

C 108˚C 116˚C 111˚C 55˚C
D 113˚C 118˚C 113˚C 55˚C
AVERAGE TS 109ºC or 115.25ºC or 112.88ºC or 55ºC or
228.2ºF 239.45ºF 235.18ºF 131ºF
Volume of Condensate 240 mL 318 mL 180 mL 160 mL

7
Table 4.2 Tabulated Results of Heat Loss in Bare and Lagged Pipes

PIPE NO. 1 2 3 4
COVERING PAINT BARE PIPE SILVER – 85%
CHROME PAINT MAGNESIA
INSULATION
convection 2.53 2.62 2.54 1.62
coefficient, hc
BTU/hr ft2 ˚F
radiation 0.03139 0.0353 0.003881 0.009132
coefficient, hr
BTU/hr ft2 ˚F
Lagging 24.53% - 43.39% 49.69%
Efficiency
(using WB), LE
Rate of Heat 3.074 3.0217 3.4135 1.737
Loss (Q/𝜃)
Btu / hr

Discussions

Pipes which are insulated have the lowest values for convection coefficient (hc). In
principle, the lower the value for the over-all heat transfer coefficient, the better the
performance of an insulator in avoiding heat losses.

Based from the data, the pipe insulated with Magnesia insulation gives the highest
lagging efficiency which is 49.69%.

Comparing the calculations, the rate of heat loss in the lagged pipe is lower compared
to the bare pipe. The pipe with Magnesia insulation shows the lowest rate of heat loss. This is
due to the higher resistance to heat transfer in the lagged pipe due to the insulation.

The majority of the pipes showed a directly proportional relationship between the steam
pressure and the amount of condensate collected. It can be attributed to the fact that at a higher
pressure, the steam supply to the experimental equipment also increases, which also results to
a higher volume of condensable steam.

8
 5. Conclusion

From this experiment, we have obtained the convection coefficient, and lagging
efficiency of the bare and lagged pipes. It was observed that the rate of heat loss in the
lagged pipes are lower compared to the bare pipe. This is due to the higher resistance to
heat transfer in the lagged pipes due to the insulation.

Results showed that pipes which are insulated have the lowest values for convection
coefficient (hc) which supports that the lower the value for the heat transfer coefficient, the
better the performance of an insulator in avoiding heat losses. The convection coefficient hc of
the bare pipe, painted pipe, silver chrome pipe and magnesia insulated pipe, respectively, were
as follows: 2.62 Btu/ hr.ft2.ºF, 2.53 Btu/ hr.ft2.ºF, 2.54 Btu/ hr.ft2.ºF, and 1.62 Btu/ hr.ft2.ºF.
This conveys that Magnesia insulated pipe gives the lowest hc.

The lagging efficiency of the painted pipe, silver chrome pipe and magnesia insulated
pipe, respectively, were as follows: 24.53%, 43.39% , and 49.69%. This conveys that the pipe
insulated with Magnesia insulation gives the highest lagging efficiency.

Recommendations

1. It is best recommended that students must read journals prior to the experiment.
2. It is recommended to do this experiment using another set up or apparatus, much better
than what is being used to obtain better results.

9
Nomenclature

𝑑𝑇
(1) 𝑞 = −𝑘𝐴 𝑑𝑥

Where: 𝑞 − 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟

𝑘 − 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙

𝐴 − 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎

𝑑𝑇
− 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙𝑠
𝑑𝑥

(2) 𝑞 = ℎ𝐴∆𝑇

Where 𝑞 − 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟

ℎ − ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡

𝐴 − 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎

∆𝑇 − 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒

(3)

(4)

where hc = Heat transfer coefficient by convection

hr = Heat transfer coefficient by radiation

10
 Ts = Surface temperature of insulation

Ao = Outside area of insulation

References

Websites

1. http://cybra.p.lodz.pl/Content/5930/HeatLossesBare.pdf (accessed on Jan 10, 2019)

2. https://vdocuments.site/me-lab-3-experiment-4-heat-losses-from-pipes-3.html
(accessed on Jan 10, 2019)

Books

1. 1.Geankoplis, C. J. (1983). Transport processes and unit operations. Boston: Allyn and
Bacon.

11
Appendices

Calculations

 calculating hc

a. For painted pipe: b. For bare pipe:

∆𝑇 ∆𝑇
hc = 0.42( 𝐷 )0.25 hc = 0.42( 𝐷 )0.25

228.2−89.6 0.25 239.45−89.6 0.25

hc = 0.42( 1.26 ) hc = 0.42( 1.18 )
12 12

hc = 2.53 BTU/hr ft2 ˚F hc = 2.62 BTU/hr ft2 ˚F

c. For silver-chrome paint pipe: d. For 85% Magnesia insulated

∆𝑇 pipe:
hc = 0.42( 𝐷 )0.25
∆𝑇
235.18−89.6 0.25 hc = 0.42( 𝐷 )0.25
hc = 0.42( 1.3 )
12
131−89.6 0.25
hc = 0.42( 2.16 )
hc = 2.54 BTU/hr ft2 ˚F 12

hc = 1.64 BTU/hr ft2 ˚F

 calculating hr

a. For Painted pipe: b. For Bare pipe:

0.173p[(Ts /100)4 −(Tr /100)4 ] 0.173p[(Ts /100)4 −(Tr /100)4 ]

hr = hr =
∆T ∆T

0.173p[(228.2/100)4 −(89.6/100)4 ] 0.173p[(239.45/100)4 −(89.6/100)4 ]

hr = hr =
228.2−89.6 239.45−89.6

hr = 0.03139 BTU/hr ft2 ˚F hr = 0.0353 BTU/hr ft2 ˚F

12
c. For Silver-chrome Painted pipe:

0.173p[(Ts /100)4 −(Tr /100)4 ]

hr = ∆T

0.173p[(235.18/100)4 −(89.6/100)4 ]
hr = 235.18−89.6

hr = 0.003881 BTU/hr ft2 ˚F

d. For 85% Magnesia Insulated pipe:

0.173p[(Ts /100)4 −(Tr /100)4 ]

hr = ∆T

0.173p[(131/100)4 −(89.6/100)4 ]
hr = 131−89.6

hr = 0.009132 BTU/hr ft2 ˚F

13
 calculating 𝑄/𝜃

a. For Painted pipe:

𝑄/𝜃 = (hc + hr)AΔ𝑇

𝑄/𝜃 = (2.53+0.03139)*(π(0.63/12)2)(228.2-89.6)

𝑄/𝜃 = 3.074 Btu / hr

b. For Bare pipe:

𝑄/𝜃 = (hc + hr)AΔ𝑇

𝑄/𝜃 = (2.62+0.0353)*(π(0.59/12)2)(239.45-89.6)

𝑄/𝜃 = 3.0217 Btu / hr

c. For Silver- chrome pipe:

𝑄/𝜃 = (hc + hr)AΔ𝑇

𝑄/𝜃 = (2.54+0.03381)*(π(0.65/12)2)(235.18-89.6)

𝑄/𝜃 = 3.4135 Btu / hr

d. For 85% Magnesia Insulated pipe:

𝑄/𝜃 = (hc + hr)AΔ𝑇

𝑄/𝜃 = (1.64+0.009132)*(π(1.08/12)2)(131-89.6)

𝑄/𝜃 = 1.737 Btu / hr

 getting LE (using WB)

14
 𝑊𝐵 −𝑊𝐿
L.E = × 100
𝑊𝐵

a. For painted pipe:

318−240
L.E = × 100
318

L.E.= 24.53%

b. For silver-chrome painted pipe:

318−180
L.E = × 100
318

L.E.= 43.39%

c. For 85% Magnesia insulated pipe:

318−160
L.E = × 100
318

LE = 49.69%

15